One LTE chip to rule them all —

Qualcomm’s global LTE chip could help end iPhone fragmentation

Chip lets phones roam to just about any cellular network.

Qualcomm yesterday unveiled a new series of chips designed to solve one of the nagging problems faced by smartphone manufacturers and smartphone users: a single phone isn't capable of hopping on any cellular network.

This difficulty caused Apple to release three versions of the iPhone 5, with support for different LTE networks. As a result, customers who frequently travel overseas had to think hard about which version of the iPhone they would buy, since different countries and carriers use different cellular bands. The iPhone uses Qualcomm chips.

LTE has exacerbated this cellular fragmentation, Qualcomm said. “The wide range of radio frequencies used to implement 2G, 3G, and 4G LTE networks globally presents an ongoing challenge for mobile device designers," Qualcomm Senior VP Alex Katouzian said in the company's announcement. "Where 2G and 3G technologies each have been implemented on four to five different RF bands globally, the inclusion of LTE brings the total number of cellular bands to approximately 40."

Qualcomm addresses this problem with several new products. These include a Dynamic Antenna Matching Tuner (QFE15xx), a "modem-assisted and configurable antenna-matching technology [that] extends antenna range to operate over 2G/3G/4G LTE frequency bands, from 700-2700 MHz." There is an Integrated Power Amplifier/Antenna Switch (QFE23xx), with "multiband support across 2G, 3G, and 4G LTE cellular modes." A new RF transceiver chip called the WTR1625L performs carrier aggregation by "accommodat[ing] all cellular modes and 2G, 3G, and 4G/LTE frequency bands and band combinations that are either deployed or in commercial planning globally." Qualcomm's new product line also reduces power consumption by "up to 30 percent."

AppleInsider noted that the new chipset could result in a global iPhone, as it "even supports the obscure TD-SCDMA network used by the world's largest carrier China Mobile." But other pieces need to fall into place first. GigaOm notes that "[o]ther components in the RF chain such as the antenna will need to catch up before a device could feasibly work on every LTE network in the world. Smart antenna makers like SkyCross and Ethertronics have designed antennas that can support a dozen bands or so, but they’re not quite ready for 40."

Still, Qualcomm believes that its chip can at least allow phone makers to build fewer versions of devices. Qualcomm said OEM products (that is, smartphones) containing its new chipset will launch in the second half of this year.

Samsung recently dropped Qualcomm for its own chipset in a new version of the Galaxy S III, the world's best-selling Android phone. The new BlackBerry Z10 uses a Qualcomm cellular chip, as does the Nexus 4. Broadcom recently announced an LTE chip with global roaming and carrier aggregation, but it won't come out until sometime in 2014.

Promoted Comments

This isn't only good for a global iPhone, it will also really help out the smaller discount carriers that operate on less common bands.

For example, Wind Mobile in Ontario operates on the AWS1700 band which is not what the big operators (Bell, Rogers, Telus) operate on. This severely limits their selection of phones. A universal chip/antenna combo like the one described in the article would mean that more and more phones would be compatible, giving the discount carriers a more competitive chance against the incumbents.

Several phone models on Verizon let you talk and surf. It's just the iPhone that can't.

There are many devices that don't have the ability to talk and surf on Verizon. It's not just the iPhone, so don't generalize.

Most any non-LTE device cannot. LTE devices generally can only do it because they have multiple antennas so can receive both the CDMA and LTE signals simultaneously. But, if you're outside of an LTE area, you can't.

Unfortunately, the iPhone 5 only has a single antenna so it can't make multiple connections simultaneously.

People keep saying this, and it is simply wrong. It is not an antenna issue, it is a baseband issue. The issue is that all of the other LTE phones that VZW sells have two complete basebands, mostly because first generation LTE basebands did not have 2G/3G support, requiring the use of two separate chips that could be operated simultaneously. Additionally, some Android phones use SoC's with integrated 2G/3G baseband, but still need a separate chip to do 4G. Depending on the exact configuration of the carrier those basebands can use the same RF front ends and antenna's simultaneously.

Finally, in the future everyone is going to be rolling our 4G voice (VoLTE) which runs voice as a data stream over LTE, which allows simultaneous voice and data over LTE with a single baseband. Hell, depending on the exact baseband it might be possible to enable it via a firmware update.

This in conjunction with the law of not being to unlock smartphones to use on different carriers should be interesting. This would make it much easier to port phones to different carriers while the government is trying to abolish it, which is absolutely crazy.

This isn't only good for a global iPhone, it will also really help out the smaller discount carriers that operate on less common bands.

For example, Wind Mobile in Ontario operates on the AWS1700 band which is not what the big operators (Bell, Rogers, Telus) operate on. This severely limits their selection of phones. A universal chip/antenna combo like the one described in the article would mean that more and more phones would be compatible, giving the discount carriers a more competitive chance against the incumbents.

This is a good thing for hardware vendors. Not such a good thing for the carriers' wallets though. But given the carriers are slowly moving away from the direct carrier-subsidy model in lieu of the new-and-improved carrier-loanshark model (where they're willing to "finance" the end user with a consumer loan directly), I think the carriers may actually not care.

End result: A good thing for a the consumer as choice and compatibility improves while costs hopefully drop.

Several phone models on Verizon let you talk and surf. It's just the iPhone that can't.

There are many devices that don't have the ability to talk and surf on Verizon. It's not just the iPhone, so don't generalize.

Most any non-LTE device cannot. LTE devices generally can only do it because they have multiple antennas so can receive both the CDMA and LTE signals simultaneously. But, if you're outside of an LTE area, you can't.

Unfortunately, the iPhone 5 only has a single antenna so it can't make multiple connections simultaneously.

That said it really isn't that big of a deal. In ~13 years of using cell phones I don't think I've ever been in a situation where I couldn't look something up on my phone while I was talking with someone (not that someone else wouldn't need to). But honestly, I don't talk on the phone all that much. And just in case you think I'm a Verizon/iPhone apologist, I purchased my first iPhone a week ago tomorrow, and I've only been with Verizon since October. Most immediately before that I was with AT&T, but over the years I've used all the major carriers.

Phone fragmentation due to different frequencies has been a problem long before the iPhone was ever conceived.

It's not only good for the iPhone, but the iPhone is the best-selling phone using Qualcomm chips. As I noted, the 2nd-best-selling smartphone in the world recently switched away from Qualcomm. BlackBerry is using Qualcomm chips, as the article notes, so the benefits extend beyond Apple products.

For example, Wind Mobile in Ontario operates on the AWS1700 band which is not what the big operators (Bell, Rogers, Telus) operate on. This severely limits their selection of phones. A universal chip/antenna combo like the one described in the article would mean that more and more phones would be compatible, giving the discount carriers a more competitive chance against the incumbents.

This is very true; as a Wind user it's disheartening to be limited to what effectively amounts to T-Mobile hand-me-downs. I'm pretty concerned about what phone selection is going to look like in a year or two if Wind doesn't pick up any LTE700 spectrum that's compatible with what some of of the major carriers are using, but a chip like this could alleviate at least some of those concerns.

Several phone models on Verizon let you talk and surf. It's just the iPhone that can't.

There are many devices that don't have the ability to talk and surf on Verizon. It's not just the iPhone, so don't generalize.

Most any non-LTE device cannot. LTE devices generally can only do it because they have multiple antennas so can receive both the CDMA and LTE signals simultaneously. But, if you're outside of an LTE area, you can't.

Unfortunately, the iPhone 5 only has a single antenna so it can't make multiple connections simultaneously.

People keep saying this, and it is simply wrong. It is not an antenna issue, it is a baseband issue. The issue is that all of the other LTE phones that VZW sells have two complete basebands, mostly because first generation LTE basebands did not have 2G/3G support, requiring the use of two separate chips that could be operated simultaneously. Additionally, some Android phones use SoC's with integrated 2G/3G baseband, but still need a separate chip to do 4G. Depending on the exact configuration of the carrier those basebands can use the same RF front ends and antenna's simultaneously.

Finally, in the future everyone is going to be rolling our 4G voice (VoLTE) which runs voice as a data stream over LTE, which allows simultaneous voice and data over LTE with a single baseband. Hell, depending on the exact baseband it might be possible to enable it via a firmware update.

I wanted a "global" phone, but in reality roaming charges are so prohibitive that I find using a second (unlocked) phone with a local number much more practical.

you don't need a second phone, you just need a phone which allows you to put in a different sim card for when you travel. that will cover most any place that does LTE and/or GSM. not so much for places that are still cdma. this is why unlocking is such a hot topic right now. why should we have to buy a second phone when the one we have will work just fine once we flip a single bit that the carrier is hiding from us?

i can't wait. hopefully this new chip(set) will drive down the cost of phones, since they'll be able to have ONE model to cover everyone instead of 43 models that are the same thing except for the radio. of course since carriers want their own exclusive models this may defeat the purpose... or maybe mfr's will be smart enough to just make a new chassis for the same internals (this one has slightly less rounded corners, and it's BLUE!) for those carriers that want "exclusive" devices.

the problem is that the nonGSM providers don't like to let outside devices onto their networks, which seems insane to me. If one could lure an ATT iphone customer over to your network, then why not? Sure it's more lucrative to lock folks in with a contract, but the proliferation of MVNOs means that more and more folks are opting to just get cheap/used/unlocked/noncontract handsets.

Even if they don't solve the insanity in the US market, it'd at least be nice to have a world LTE handset in one model.

At some point, the wearable computers will mean that folks opt for nearly featureless cellular modems that interface to completely independent (ie no cellular connectivity) handsets, headsets, goggles, watches, pince-nez, etc. It'll be dumb pipes, and there'll probably be a lot less profit for them.

the problem is that the nonGSM providers don't like to let outside devices onto their networks, which seems insane to me. If one could lure an ATT iphone customer over to your network, then why not? Sure it's more lucrative to lock folks in with a contract, but the proliferation of MVNOs means that more and more folks are opting to just get cheap/used/unlocked/noncontract handsets.

Several phone models on Verizon let you talk and surf. It's just the iPhone that can't.

There are many devices that don't have the ability to talk and surf on Verizon. It's not just the iPhone, so don't generalize.

Most any non-LTE device cannot. LTE devices generally can only do it because they have multiple antennas so can receive both the CDMA and LTE signals simultaneously. But, if you're outside of an LTE area, you can't.

Unfortunately, the iPhone 5 only has a single antenna so it can't make multiple connections simultaneously.

That said it really isn't that big of a deal. In ~13 years of using cell phones I don't think I've ever been in a situation where I couldn't look something up on my phone while I was talking with someone (not that someone else wouldn't need to). But honestly, I don't talk on the phone all that much. And just in case you think I'm a Verizon/iPhone apologist, I purchased my first iPhone a week ago tomorrow, and I've only been with Verizon since October. Most immediately before that I was with AT&T, but over the years I've used all the major carriers.

First of all, there haven't been smart phones for 13 years, so the oportunity to use the internet and voice at the same time hasn't been around that long. Second, as a Blackberry user way before the fruit phone came out, I would never give up the ability to talk and view the internet at the same time. I do this quite often.

BTW, Blackberry bought one of those antenna tuner companies a few years ago so one antenna could handle multiple bands. Now you do need to realize that a "trimmed" or "tuned" antenna is not the same as a resonant antenna. These tuning chips are just digitally programable capacitors that adjust the VSWR of the antenna to improve the impedance match. The actual gain of the antenna is not effected by the tuner. I believe in the case of Verizon, an additional filter is needed to duplex.

Last of all, just because you can use a particular band, doesn't mean your provider will allow it. Even though T-mobile has some roaming on AT$T, you can't roam on every AT$T tower. Even in areas where AT$T has service and T-mobile doesn't. These wireless providers know the cost of roaming on a per tower basis, and they watch it like a hawk. If the roaming is too expensive, they put up their own tower. Now for international use, that isn't possible, but that is the plan domestically.

Several phone models on Verizon let you talk and surf. It's just the iPhone that can't.

There are many devices that don't have the ability to talk and surf on Verizon. It's not just the iPhone, so don't generalize.

Most any non-LTE device cannot. LTE devices generally can only do it because they have multiple antennas so can receive both the CDMA and LTE signals simultaneously. But, if you're outside of an LTE area, you can't.

Unfortunately, the iPhone 5 only has a single antenna so it can't make multiple connections simultaneously.

People keep saying this, and it is simply wrong. It is not an antenna issue, it is a baseband issue. The issue is that all of the other LTE phones that VZW sells have two complete basebands, mostly because first generation LTE basebands did not have 2G/3G support, requiring the use of two separate chips that could be operated simultaneously. Additionally, some Android phones use SoC's with integrated 2G/3G baseband, but still need a separate chip to do 4G. Depending on the exact configuration of the carrier those basebands can use the same RF front ends and antenna's simultaneously.

Finally, in the future everyone is going to be rolling our 4G voice (VoLTE) which runs voice as a data stream over LTE, which allows simultaneous voice and data over LTE with a single baseband. Hell, depending on the exact baseband it might be possible to enable it via a firmware update.

I would like to chime in to this conversation and remind everyone that GSM phones have been able to talk and surf simultaneously for years. My first smart phone, a Nexus One, my Nexus S, and now my Nexus 4, all of which were/are on T-Mobile, can surf and talk simultaneously as long as I have a 3G or HSPA+ signal. When the iPhone was still AT&T exclusive, and 3G only, they used this as one of their selling points. Only when they started branching out to other carriers did they stop using this selling point.

I would like to chime in to this conversation and remind everyone that GSM phones have been able to talk and surf simultaneously for years. My first smart phone, a Nexus One, my Nexus S, and now my Nexus 4, all of which were/are on T-Mobile, can surf and talk simultaneously as long as I have a 3G or HSPA+ signal. When the iPhone was still AT&T exclusive, and 3G only, they used this as one of their selling points. Only when they started branching out to other carriers did they stop using this selling point.

also, any phone (even verizon) can surf/talk at the same time if wifi is available. i've done this a few times at home on my droid4. i don't talk on the phone much while in a moving vehicle (even if i'm just a passenger) so haven't really had much of a chance to try talking/surfing at the same time, even though my phone has lte, and i usually have a good 4g signal here in houston.

Unfortunately, the iPhone 5 only has a single antenna so it can't make multiple connections simultaneously.

People keep saying this, and it is simply wrong. It is not an antenna issue, it is a baseband issue. The issue is that all of the other LTE phones that VZW sells have two complete basebands, mostly because first generation LTE basebands did not have 2G/3G support, requiring the use of two separate chips that could be operated simultaneously. Additionally, some Android phones use SoC's with integrated 2G/3G baseband, but still need a separate chip to do 4G. Depending on the exact configuration of the carrier those basebands can use the same RF front ends and antenna's simultaneously.

What it really boils down to is that by using this single Tx chain, Apple is able to support a ton of LTE bands (more space for PAs and fewer transceiver ports used on SVLTE for CDMA networks) and also do it without making the iPhone very large. Moving to an architecture that works with SVDO and SVLTE would require an additional transmit path and antenna, and incur a size and weight penalty.

In addition, MDM9615 is the first of Qualcomm’s LTE basebands to be natively voice enabled.

Quote:

Apple mentioned that it actually improved this even further, and after a lot of discussions with the right people and digging, I’ve learned that the iPhone 5 actually is a 3 Rx, 1 Tx design [antenna]....The other repercussion is of course no simultaneous voice and data for CDMA2000 and LTE networks that aren’t running VoLTE without that second transmit chain.

While it is correct that separate chips were required in the past, the MDM9615 ("Gobi") doesn't have that limitation (and was a big deal when it came out). The exact reason for the iPhone 5 to not support simultaneous CDMA voice and LTE data is the antenna, and not the baseband. In fact, the RAZR HD doesn't use a separate chip ("Wrigley") for LTE anymore, which the original RAZR did (and the original Bionic/RAZR supported simultaneous voice and data as well).

Holy Moses.. that could revolutionize American's broadband wireless market. Of course there are some real challenges to users.

One of the major problems with the Monopolies putting up Cellular and charging whatever t f they want, is the inability to change providers.

I proposed the FCC change rules of spectrum licensing to assure free competition on a real-time basis some years ago.

This introduces competition into the wireless market place, by allow smartphone makers to auto-switch between the best cellular data provider. This pushes the word *best* out to the competitors, rather than *contracted*.

That's a rebirth of competition in telecom, if, that is *if* you cell phone will be *allowed by policy of the maker* to shift between cellphone service providers.

If these new chips do sell and they will, auto-cell-service provider finder, based on cost and performance will revolutionize the market, driving mobile broadband to lower costs.

Of course, in our Monopoly controlled Congress and economy, fighting for a competitive, free market is difficult , if not impossible.

At *least* the technology will be there, and that's a first.

The next step - the regulatory rules, that's an FCC obligation that they must pave the way to.

I doubt many carriers would allow this to be included in their phones and if it was, they would block the feature via hardware or software locks. Until governments or other organisations with legal clout force phone carriers/networks to open up their monopolies, it'll be business as usual.

Well, that and carriers in the US will demand phones that only work on their networks, so even if the tech is there it wont be available to the average US consumer.

There is only one CDMA version of the iPhone 5 (and previous) for all networks.

CDMA doesn't really matter in the first place, because it order to use it anywhere else, it has to have GSM. Verizon and Sprint wont activate each others phones. Which is why I'll never use the CDMA providers.

If VoLTE ever shows up everywhere, then maybe having a phone from Verizon or Sprint might not suck, as they'd have a SIM.

Well, that and carriers in the US will demand phones that only work on their networks, so even if the tech is there it wont be available to the average US consumer.

There is only one CDMA version of the iPhone 5 (and previous) for all networks.

CDMA doesn't really matter in the first place, because it order to use it anywhere else, it has to have GSM. Verizon and Sprint wont activate each others phones. Which is why I'll never use the CDMA providers.

If VoLTE ever shows up everywhere, then maybe having a phone from Verizon or Sprint might not suck, as they'd have a SIM.

Any LTE device already has a SIM, including those on Verizon. All it's used for is LTE in the US, and GSM roaming globally.

Well, that and carriers in the US will demand phones that only work on their networks, so even if the tech is there it wont be available to the average US consumer.

There is only one CDMA version of the iPhone 5 (and previous) for all networks.

CDMA doesn't really matter in the first place, because it order to use it anywhere else, it has to have GSM. Verizon and Sprint wont activate each others phones. Which is why I'll never use the CDMA providers.

If VoLTE ever shows up everywhere, then maybe having a phone from Verizon or Sprint might not suck, as they'd have a SIM.

Any LTE device already has a SIM, including those on Verizon. All it's used for is LTE in the US, and GSM roaming globally.

You still can't take that phone and use it on Sprint, even if they used the same LTE bands, because you need CDMA for voice.